The Letter

The Letter
Mr. Jarndyce was out of line writing a letter of proposal to Ester. I know this sounds crazy but as her guardian he took advantage of their relationship by asking for her hand. First of all Ester is always talking about how grateful she is for every thing he has done for her and he never lets her repay him. See what she says when he mentions writing a letter to her, "Dear guardian, how could I object to your writing any thing for me to read?"(Dickens, 542). Ester still feels like Jarndyce is above her see how the word me is italicized as if she is surprised that someone of Jarndyce's stature would even write her a letter. It seems that she prepares herself to say yes even though she is not sure of it because of his status and to somehow repay him for everything he has done for her. See how she convinces herself to be happy with her decision, "When you are mistress of Bleak House, you are to be as cheerful as a bird"(Dickens, 545). The second reason she decided to except Jarndyce's proposal was because of her scars. She was afraid that part of the reason he proposed was because no other man would ever want her looking the way she did. She feels like Mr. Jarndyce is the only man that will love her and the only man she can truly trust in (which is another reason the letter is out of line). See what she thinks to herself after reading the letter, "That his generosity rose above my disfigurement, and my inheritance of shame. that the more I stood in need of such fidelity, the more firmly I might trust him to the last"(Dickens, 544). I know I have discredited a character that is very liked in the book and I think is only saving grace in his proposal is that there is no hint of him wanting a sexual relation ship, yet I do think it is selfish of him to ask her to give up her young life to finish out the end of his life and then she'll be left widowed and never having a chance for love. Ester does not see it this way at the time because of her disfigurement and her "shameful" that is why she brushes the flowers over Ada's lips and burns them because they symbolize a love she can never have and Ada has with Richard. Little does Ester know at the time that Mr. Woodcourt does love her and will not care about her scares.

In chapter six Ester criticizes Mrs. Jellyby's priorities.  Ester suggest that although Mrs. Jellyby's Africa project is noble, she should focus on her home before devoting herself to things outside the home. She says on page 113, "... it is right to begin with the obligations of home, sir; and that, perhaps while those are overlooked and neglected, no other duties can possibly be substituted for them?" Ester falls in line with the Victorian Idea that a woman's place is in the home and that should be her first and most important priority. I'm wondering if Dickens is suggesting there is a loss of this as there is more than one example of a woman who's family seems out of sorts because of her devotion to another cause. A good example is Mrs. Pardiggle, her boy's as Ester says were, "...such dissatisfied children"(Dickens, 143). Dickens suggest with these two characters that women should not be focused on things outside the home or their home and children will suffer. What does everyone else think of this idea. Do you think Dickens wanted women to stay home.